As the modified drivers were on the track qualifying, rain moved back into the area, forcing track officials to cancel the racing at Fairbury American Legion Speedway last weekend.

Track officials did everything they could to get the first race of the year in and had the track in excellent shape, but with the last rain shower, the track was lost for the night.

“What a mess Saturday, although I think we did what we could all night long,” said FALS race director Matt Curl.

A muddy pit area had several vehicles stuck in the mud. Several officials were using tractors to pull the race teams out of the muddy conditions.

This Saturday night at FALS, will be the first race in the Alkota “Keep it Clean” Series. According to Curl, the Alkota “Keep It Clean” Series is a four-race points competition that each of the four weekly divisions will have an opportunity to take part.

Each driver will earn points based on their feature finish and those will be added up for each of the four nights. The driver with the most points for the series will receive a new Alkota Hot Water Pressure Washer valued at more than $3,100. Second place will receive a 55-gallon drum of cleaning soap.

Rural Route Repair in Dana and M&M Pumps in Clinton sponsor the series. The four dates are this Saturday, June 29, July 20 and Aug. 3.

The pit and Second Street gates open at 3 p.m. The First Street gate will open at 5. Hot laps start at 5:50, qualifying begin at 6:30, and racing will follow. Gate admission is $10 for adults and children under 12 are free. Pit passes are $25. Fans my use their rain checks for the week or any regular night of racing.

Curl, in his first year as FALS director is looking forward to getting the season started.

“I am really excited about my first year as race director,” Curl said. “I am not only excited for me, but for all who are involved with the planning of our events throughout the season. Right now it’s hard because you want to know how all your hard work is going to pay off and we haven't been able to show that yet which is a little frustrating.

“I know we will have plenty of races this year, but a race fan like myself, and everybody around this area alike, want to race every weekend,” Curl added. “It’s just in the blood.”

In addition to Fairbury, all weekend racing was canceled around the area due to the rain.

Page 2 of 3 - LaSalle Speedway

Next Friday and Saturday the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will invade the LaSalle Speedway for the “Spring Shootout.” The two-day event will present a complete show each night, with the winner of the late model feature winning $10,000 for his efforts.

Pits and grandstands open at 3 p.m. Hot laps start at 6, qualifying at 6:30 and racing will start at 7:30 each night. Admission is $25 and children under 11 are $5. Skybox seats are $40 or an all-access ticket, which allows fans into the pits and reserves a seat in the skybox for $65.

A bonfire, with music and food, will be held following the conclusion of Friday’s racing. Defending race winner Don O’Neal joins former track champion Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Bobby Pierce, Steve Francis, along with area favorites Jason Feger, Kevin Weaver, McKay Wenger and a host of national and local drivers. UMP modified, street stock and 4-cylinder divisions will also take part in the weekend program.

Farmer City Raceway

Farmer City Raceway will present a full race program on Friday night. The UMP sanctioned track has gates opening at 3, hot laps at 6:30, qualifying at 7 and racing to follow. Admission is $12 and children under 11 are free.

Kankakee Speedway

Kankakee County Speedway will try again this Friday for their first race of the year. UMP sanctioned late models, pro late models, modified, street stock, I-mods and compact drivers will be in action. Main gates open at 5, hot laps at 6, qualifying at 6:30 and racing starts at 7:30.

Lincoln Speedway

The Graue Big Ten Late Model Series returns Friday night to Lincoln Speedway, along with a full racing show. Gates open at 3, hot laps at 6:30 and racing starts at 7. Gate admission is $10 and ages under 12 are free.

Grundy County Speedway

Race fans looking for something different can try the 1/3-mile, paved Grundy County Speedway in Morris. Late models, sportsman, street stock, and 4-cylinder classes compete each Friday through Labor Day.

Former NASCAR driver Rich Bickle Jr. is racing at the speedway and has indicated his plans to race for the track championship. Located at the fairgrounds, admission is $12 for adults, seniors are $10 and children under 11 are free.

Route 66 Speedway

Pontiac’s Route 66 Speedway will try again this Sunday for its first race of the year. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., practice starts at 12:15 p.m. and the first race is at 1. Admission is free for spectators but a donation box is set up to help with the cost of running the 1/8-mile dirt oval.

Page 3 of 3 - In the Pits

The late Jack Tyne was inducted into the Illinois Stock Car Hall of Fame on April 13 at the Holiday Inn in Rockford. A multi-time track champion at Fairbury, Tyne also captured the crown on several occasions at Farmer City. In addition, Tyne competed on many tracks throughout Illinois and Indiana.

A resident of Streator, Tyne passed away in July 2009, at the age of 80.

A benefit will be held on May 19 at the Country Side Banquet Facility in Washington for Gary Cook Jr.

Cook, the 2009 UMP national champion in the modified class and four-time track champion at Fairbury, has been fighting a long battle with cancer. The benefit, which will start at 1 p.m., will have a bag tournament, auction, food and a raffle. The cost is a $10 donation.

Currently in the planning stages at Fairbury, will be a skybox to be located on the backstretch. The skybox was part of the package deal, along with the new stands, that were bought from the now closed Shepps Speedway.

“The plan is to possibly try and have it up this year,” Gunner Sullivan, the marketing director for the track, said. “We are working on plans for the structure to be sat on. The skybox will be available for rent and for marketing partners to host customer appreciation nights. It should hold between 20-30 people.”

Season tickets are still on sale for $200 at the track gates. Season pit passes are also on sale at the main office. Information on reserved seating and reserved camping for the Prairie Dirt Classic can be sent to fairburyspeedwaytickets@hotmail.com.

Jason Feger lost his appeal to the World of Outlaws for allegedly altering a tire used to win a heat race during the Illini 100 at Farmer City.

Feger was disqualified from the race, lost all of his purse money ($20,050), the winner’s trophy and $400 for a tire analysis fee. In addition, Feger was fined $3,000, lost 1,000 points, was suspended from all World of Outlaw Late Model Series and DIRT car UMP late model events for three months and will be placed on probation following the conclusion of his suspension for the remainder of the 2013 season.